Ex-funeral director found guiltyA former Russellville funeral director was found guilty last week in Pope County Circuit Court of indecent exposure and sexual harassment and sentenced to 30 days in jail. James R. Broussard, 42, was found guilty by the circuit court jury and was sentenced to 30 days in the Pope County Detention Center (PCDC). The jury also and upheld a guilty verdict from Russellville District Court from last year. Broussard was charged with indecent exposure...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Murder trial rescheduled for MarchOne of two men charged with the June 2016 murder of a Russellville man had his trial rescheduled in Johnson County Circuit Court. David Gibbons, Fifth Judicial District prosecuting attorney, said Tuesday that the trial of Christopher Gerald Weston, 37, of London originally set for Sept. 25-29, was rescheduled during a recent hearing for March 13-16, 2018. Weston and Maximus Howard Stillwell, 30, of London were each charged with first-degree mu...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Murder trial rescheduled for MarchOne of two men charged with the June 2016 murder of a Russellville man had his trial rescheduled in Johnson County Circuit Court. David Gibbons, Fifth Judicial District prosecuting attorney, said Tuesday that the trial of Christopher Gerald Weston, 37, of London originally set for Sept. 25-29, was rescheduled during a recent hearing for March 13-16, 2018. Weston and Maximus Howard Stillwell, 30, of London were each charged with first-degree mu...

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Sean Ingram sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Ex-funeral director found guiltyA former Russellville funeral director was found guilty last week in Pope County Circuit Court of indecent exposure and sexual harassment and sentenced to six months in jail. James R. Broussard, 42, was found guilty in circuit court and was sentenced to six months in the Pope County Detention Center (PCDC). A guilty verdict from Russellville District Court from last year was also upheld by Circuit Court Judge William "Bill" Pearson. Broussard ...

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Sean Ingram sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings on Wednesday and Friday before District Judge Don Bourne. Their names, ages, anticiapted charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear in Pope County Circuit Court at a later date. Jeffrey W. Chenowith, 33, possession of firearms by a certain person -- own recognizance. Autin H. Byrd, 19, theft of property -- $10,000. James T. Linzy, 37, failure to appear -- $100,00...

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Compiled by Courier staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Video visits to start soon at county jailFriends and family members can visit inmates inside the Pope County Detention Center (PCDC) Wednesdays and Sundays, with some on Thursdays. That will change next month when the county jail implements a video visitation system that will improve safety and do away with any contraband people try to smuggle into inmates. Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said he and jail officials had talked about video visitation for the past four months. At least ...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Ex-school treasurer charged with theftCLARKSVILLE -- A former treasurer with the Johnson County Westside School District was recently charged with five counts of theft of property which totaled over $178,000. David Gibbons, prosecuting attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, confirmed that Brandi Freeman, who was district treasurer for nine years until her resignation in March, was charged in Johnson County Circuit Court documents with five counts of theft of district funds. Two...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

100 pounds of pot recovered on I-40Arkansas State Police recovered around 100 pounds of marijuana from U.S. Interstate 40 on Tuesday after stopping a U-Haul for swerving onto the right shoulder several times. According to a police report, the vehicle was stopped near the 75 eastbound mile marker at approximately 8:03 a.m. After allegedly noticing an odor of marijuana emitting from the passenger window, the trooper initiated a search based on probable cause. According to the rep...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Authorities: Teen sneaked through minor's windowLandon J. Worsham, 18, was arrested after police said he snuck through the window of a 14-year-old female's home to have sex. According to a police report, the victim told police she had consensual intercourse with Worsham, whom she claimed to have met at a basketball game while she was in the eighth grade. At the time, Worsham was 18 and a high school senior. Worsham and the victim allegedly communicated through texts and Instagram without he...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man asserts guilt in bond hearingStancy C. Westbrook, 43, interrupted District Judge Don Bourne to assert his guilt in an alleged aggravated assault that occurred on Tuesday. "I'm guilty, man," Westbrook said as Bourne informed him a bond hearing is a determination of probable cause and not of guilt. According to a police report, Westbrook was arrested at approximately 8:32 a.m. after police were dispatched to the 2700 block of West 12th Street in Russellville. The victim tol...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man accused of rape asks for polygraphThyrone L. Brown, 39, called the rape accusation against him "bull" during felony bond hearings on Friday inside the Pope County Detention Center. "Can I take a polygraph test under hypnosis," he asked after District Judge Don Bourne determined probable cause and set his bond at $50,000. Brown was arrested after the victim reported she had been raped by a man she knew as "Antonio," according to a police report. The victim said the man also wen...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simspon@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police: Man stalked girl online before sexual assaultPolice say a 31-year-old man stalked a 15-year-old Russellville girl online before he showed up at her house to have sexual intercourse while her parents were at work. Cristobal Reyes-Perez was arrested after police received a report of a sexual assault from the girl's parents last week. According to a detective with the Russellville Police Department who testified during felony bond hearings on Wednesday, Reyes-Perez and the victim had an onl...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

House bill clarifies use of ATVsCLARKSVILLE -- Johnson County Sheriff Larry Jones said a House of Representatives bill regarding the use of all-terrain vehicles clarifies when it is okay to drive ATVs on public roadways or highways. "We have had a lot of questions and concerns about the new House Bill 1148 that was passed regarding enforcement of ATVs on public highways and roadways as well as about whether or not you can ride ATVs on National Forest trails," Jones said. The...

School bus involved in wreck; no serious injuries reportedThere were no serious injuries reported when a Russellville School District bus was involved in an accident Friday morning at the intersection of East Parkway Drive and Frankford Avenue. Ashley Snellenberger, school district communications coordinator, stated that there were several students on the bus at the time of the accident, but no students or the bus driver sustained serious injuries. The school district immediately contacted parents of...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley